3 Middle School Students Arrested For School Shooting Threat: PCSO

PALM HARBOR, FL — Three students were arrested Thursday on charges related to a shooting threat at Palm Harbor Middle School, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Though PCSO named the students, it’s Patch policy not to name minors accused of a crime unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s unknown whether he has been charged as a juvenile or an adult.

A 12-year-old boy who attends Safety Harbor Middle School logged into another student’s Pinellas County Schools Student Information System portal account, FOCUS, and sent threatening messages to a Palm Harbor Middle School teacher.

In one of his messages, he wrote, “im gonna shoot the school up tomorrow be ready,” detectives said.

When investigators contacted the boy, he admitted to sending the messages. He was charged with written threats to conduct a mass shooting and criminal use of personal identification.

Detectives also identified two Palm Harbor Middle School students, a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy, who logged into the same FOCUS account.

They were each charged with criminal use of personal identification.

Anyone with information on any threats is asked to notify the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 727-582-6200 or at GetFortifyFL.com.